News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
As part of efforts to curtail the escalating crisis and killings of innocent citizens in Benue and Taraba states, the Inter-faith Dialogue Forum for Peace, (IDFP) Nigeria, has organized a one day Monitoring and Evaluation/Capacity Building Workshop for its Interfaith Dialogue Networks (IDNs).
Speaking at the workshop which held in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Wednesday, the Co-Chairman, IDFP Nigeria, Rev. Abainitus Hamman, called on the federal government and Benue and Taraba state governments to increase their support for mediation and dialogue efforts.
Hamman lamented that for too long, land disputes, ethno-religious tensions, and political competition have been exploited to divide the people, regretting the loss of lives, displacement of families, and destruction of livelihoods are painful reminders of the urgent need for peace, justice, and inclusive dialogue.
He however stated that the challenges are complex, but not insurmountable saying “We must understand the root causes, poverty, misinformation, historical grievances and work collectively to address them.
Rev Hamman also noted that “In our journey toward peace, the role of government is indispensable. We need enabling policies, funding for interfaith engagement, support for conflict early warning systems, and protection for communities vulnerable to violence.
“Government must not only respond to conflict but invest in preventing it through education, youth empowerment, inclusive governance, and recognition of the role of religious and traditional leaders in peace building.”
He urged all participants not just to leave with knowledge, but with renewed determination to be agents of peace in their immediate Benue and Taraba communities saying that peace is not a one-day event, and it is not the task of one group alone.
In his remarks, the Co-Chairman (Muslim), IDFP, Dr. Yusuf Arrigasiyyu said the gathering was taking place at a time of great concern and heartbreak as the continued killings, displacement, and destruction in Benue and Taraba States are deeply troubling to every conscience guided by faith and humanity.
“Men, women, and children are suffering and dying in cycles of violence that serve no purpose other than to divide, destroy, and deepen mistrust among communities.
“As religious leaders and moral voices in society, both the Qur’an and the Bible call us to be peacemakers. There is need to speak with one voice to say: No more bloodshed in the name of God. No more hate in the name of faith.
“Our mission as faith leaders is not merely to preach peace, but to build bridges, defuse tensions, and create avenues for healing. We must engage our communities, not just from the pulpit, but in the fields, markets, and schools, to promote understanding and empathy.”
He proposed that Muslim and Christian leaders embark on Interfaith Peace Missions to affected communities in Benue and Taraba, to condemn the violence and offer collective support and also pressure government actors to fulfill their constitutional duty of protecting all citizens without bias.
He also suggested Community Peace Dialogues that bring together traditional rulers, youth leaders, women, and religious figures to identify local solutions and early warning mechanisms and a Joint Sermons and Prayers where mosques and churches across Nigeria dedicate time to preach the message of peace, tolerance, and reconciliation.
The Galadima of Muri, District Head of Jalingo, Lamido Tukur Abba Tukur applauded IDFP leadership for the workshop and urged them to involve more traditional leaders and other grassroots dwellers since the incident takes place locally.
The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Taraba state, Fr. Williams Awoshiri, the Co-Secretary IDFP, Rev Fr Joseph Nomhwange, Co- Chairman of IDN in Benue State, Alhaji Garba Baba represented by the Chief Imam of Makurdi Central Mosque, Dr Habib Suleiman, and the state Secretary IDFP, Alhaji Ahmed Baba, some members of IDN Benue Hajia Hauwa Isah, Bishop Kefas Okwori, among others all committed to ensuring collaboration with relevant organizations to preach and ensure peace return to the states.
Earlier, the Project Coordinator IDFP, Hajia Lantana Abdullahi said the objectives of the workshop include identifying strategies to strengthen the Interfaith Dialogue Networks (IDN), functions, sustainability and cross-collaboration, identify and address capacity development gaps and possible referral training for IDN members and to reintroduce IDFP and its leadership to ensure better cooperation, improved communication, strengthen monitoring and reporting.
The workshop also identified issues of killings of innocent people, reprisal attacks, kidnapping for ransom, banditry, cultism, open grazing and destruction of farmlands, cattle rustling, inter and intra ethnic clashes, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) among others as some of the challenges and crisis bedeviling both states and called all hands on deck to nip them in the bud.
